A SPECIAL flower show has been organised to help celebrate the 925th birthday of an East Staffordshire church.

St Mary’s Priory Church, in Tutbury, was founded in 1089 and senior figures at the site of worship are putting on a range of activities to mark the anniversary.

A four-day festival, named ‘Say it with Flowers’, will depict the history of the church, including the time of the dissolution of the monasteries when a great part of the then Benedictine Priory was destroyed leaving just the parish church which is still in regular use, via a raft of colourful displays.

A spokesman for the church said: “Loved ones will be remembered with appropriate flowers, with arrangements for baptism and marriage being staged throughout the church.

“The musical tradition of St Mary’s will not be forgotten either and there will be a ‘Songs of Praise’ service at 6pm on Sunday.

“Talented flower arrangers and members of the congregation will be helping stage the flower festival, which will run from 10am to 6pm from Friday until Monday, June 30.

“Various live music will be heard in the church on Saturday and Sunday and there will be an opportunity to enjoy homemade goods.

“The proceeds of the flower festival will go towards the upkeep of this magnificent Norman church which has a unique west door with six receding arches, one of which is carved from local alabaster and dates from around 1160.”